The first traces of Valentine's day come from ancient
Rome. Originally it was a pagan celebration in the name of Lupercalia, god of
the herd and shepherd and to Junon, goddess of the woman and the roman
wedding. It was the opportunities to celebrate fertility ritual, the more
surprising event was the the race of the "luperque", in which men were
chasing women and whipping them with goat's leather thongs in order to favour
birth. Later, the catholic church made official the pagan celebration and gave
tribute to Valentin a priest who dared married people in spite of a ban by the
emperor Claudius.

Now the celebration has become a commercial climax for
florist and chocolate maker. That's a shame, we should reintroduce the Luperque
race.